Posted on 04/10/2013 3:45:47 AM PDT by NYer
.- The Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services has said it is “astounded” at a U.S. Army Reserve training brief that listed Catholics alongside “violent and extremist” groups.
“The archdiocese calls upon the Department of Defense to review these materials and to ensure that taxpayer funds are never again used to present blatantly anti-religious material to the men and women in uniform,” the archdiocese said April 4.
In its statement, the archdiocese noted that an investigation and reply from the Army Chief of Chaplains office said the training “appears to have been an isolated incident not condoned by the Department of the Army.”
The presentation, titled “Extremism & Extremist Organizations,” discussed religious extremism in a presentation that covered militias, neo-Nazis, Islamic extremism, terrorism and gangs.
One slide, titled “Religious Extremism,” listed Catholicism and Evangelical Christianity along with groups including Al Qaida, Hamas and the Ku Klux Klan.
The presentation described extremism as a “complex phenomenon” defined by beliefs, attitudes or feelign “far removed from the 'ordinary.'” It said religious extremism is not limited to any religion, ethnic group or region.
“Every religion has some followers that believe that their beliefs, customs and traditions are the only 'right way' and that all others are practicing their faith the 'wrong way,' seeing and believing that their faith/religion (is) superior to all others,” the slide said.
The presentation cited sources such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League and some of its language appeared to be taken from the website Wikipedia.
The Army removed the slide after complaints.
A U.S. Army spokesperson told the Washington Times that the presentation was produced by an individual without the knowledge or permission of anyone in the chain of command.
The person who created the presentation “was not a subject matter expert and produced the material after conducting internet research,” the spokesperson said.
The presentation also drew criticism from the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a non-denominational group of military chaplains..
The archdiocese said it and the Chaplain Alliance told the Army that it “can and should take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.”
The Archdiocese for Military Services has endorsed priests at more than 220 U.S. military installations in 29 countries, serving an estimated 1.8 million Catholics worldwide.
Bump
Medal of Honor for US Army chaplain Father Kapaun
Army chaplain to get Medal of Honor posthumously (Fr Kapaun)
Chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun: The Good Thief
Chaplain gets Medal of Honor 62 years after death (Outstanding story)
New: "The Miracle of Father Kapaun: Priest, Soldier and Korean War Hero"
Students Try to Banish Catholic Chaplain From Campus for Anti-Gay Stance
Archbishop Broglio Delivers Homily of Thanksgiving for Service and Dedication of Pope Benedict XVI
Father Emil Kapaun to be Awarded Medal of Honor
New auxiliary bishop for military archdiocese, Bishop-designate Robert J. Coyle
February 3rd - Four Chaplain's Day
“We Have to Go Where The Suffering and Dying Are” [Military Chaplains]
‘We See the Lord in Combat’ - Remembering Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno
Lawmakers Claim Air Force Culture Becoming 'Hostile Towards Religion'
‘Get in Line’ or ‘Resign’ Admiral Tells Military Chaplain
A Halo and a Medal for Emil Kapaun?
Prison Mates Promote Cause of Heroic Korean War Priest
Recognition Finally for a Warrior Priest's Heroics
ACTION ITEM ALERT! Pres. Obama, through a minion, attacks Catholic chaplains once again
Airborne Forces Priests Will Make Parachute Jumps During Their Training [Russia]
Religious Speech in the Military: Freedoms and Limitations
Soldier, Chaplain, Shepherd (Auxiliary Bishop Rick Spencer of the U.S. Archdiocese for Military)
Catholics Seek to Boost Number of Priests Serving as Chaplains
Catholic Chaplain Finds UK Troops in Afghanistan Hungering For Religion
U.S. troops in Afghanistan
Cross removed at base in Afghanistan
Mass During Wartime
The Traditional Latin Mass -- in Afghanistan
Uncle Sam attracts more (Catholic) military chaplains
Evangelical Chaplains Refuse to Marry Gay Couples on Military Bases
Over 2,000 Evangelical, Orthodox Chaplains Join Catholics in Opposing Pentagon on Same-Sex Marriage
2,000 Evangelical, Orthodox Chaplains Join Catholics in Opposing Pentagon Directive on SSM
No Same-Sex Weddings at West Point's Catholic Chapel, Says Military Archdiocese
Conflict between Pentagon and Catholic military chaplains brews over ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
The (Catholic) Church's Noblest at Ground Zero
More men asking about becoming military chaplains
Catholic Caucus: Fr. Emil Kapaun: The Good Thief
Catholic Military Chaplains: America's Forgotten Heroes (Ecumenical)
Fr. Emil Kapaun Beatification Cause Heads to Rome [US Army Chaplain]
Two US Soldier Priests
Chaplain Groups Ask Military to Create Religious Liberty Protections
Australian Padre helps deployed soldiers tackle life challenges (Former SAS soldier turns chaplain)
Army says chaplain is first killed in action since 1970
Army Chaplain Dies in Afghanastan
With God in Iraq: A Day in the Life of a Military Chaplain
Soldier's Death Led Catholic Priest to Become Chaplain
Mass at National Shrine to honor Servant of God and heroic Navy chaplain
Prison chaplain remembers ("Behind the Walls with the Man Behind the Stole")
"Thanks God... and Thanks Mom" (Senate chaplain recalls his mom's amazing last day on earth)
Priest a wartime legend (Most decorated chaplain in Canadian army history dies at 106)
Catholic Navy chaplain shares story of Iraqi conversion (from 12/04/07)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.